Electrolytic condenser



March 18, 1941. E. c. WAHLBERG ELECTROLYTIC CONDENSER l l I I l l I I I I l I l l I I l I l I I I Filed March 9. 1939 m M I IIII E770 6. may

ATTO R N EYS Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 9,

Claims.

My invention relates to electric circuits, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved electrolytic condenser.

An object of my invention is to provide an 5 electrolytic condenser embodying anodes of the film forming type in combination With a cathode in the nature of a container wherein novel means are incorporated for isolating a plurality of anodes in a common container to the end that the unit will embody a plurality of anodes. The anodes are grouped in a unitary structure in the nature of an insert which may be incorporated in the container or cathode. While the anodes comprise distinct and separate elements, means are employed for fixedly relating the anodes in a compact and sturdy manner so as to provide a unit which may easily be incorporated in the container.

A further object is to provide a condenser of the type described embodying a container terminating in a bored neck together with a plurality of anodes grouped as a unit and provided with individual tabs for connection with the electric circuits in which the tabs are grouped about a common support extending through the bore in the neck. A resilient sleeve is interposed between the wall of the bored neck and the grouped tabs for consummating an efiective seal between the parts in addition to lending support thereto. The resilient sleeve renders the related parts liquid tight and is so constructed as to compensate variation in the structural parts associated therewith.

35 Another object is to provide an electrolytic condenser embodying a container or cathode provided with a closure cap together with novel means for efiectively sealing the cap and the container. Between the cap and the container I provide a resilient gasket and shape the parts so as to provide an effective seal through contraction of one part upon the others. The cap embodies a perforated dome-shaped element for venting pur poses and the gasket is provided with a vent opening communicating with the dome-shaped element.

Another object is to provide an electrolytic condenser embodying a plurality of anodes in which novel means are incorporated for isolating the anodes wherein a liner is incorporated in the container or cathode housing the anodes. Separators of insulating material are arranged to individually isolate the anodes inside the container and the separators for close fitting relation with the liner of the container, with the liner per- 1939, Serial No. 260,318

forated or slotted so as to expose the container to the electrolyte.

Another object is to provide an electrolytic condenser so constructed as to facilitate substitution of parts without damage to the intact parts.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is asectional view of an electrolytic condenser in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional View along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but illustrating the plane of the section rotated 45 degrees;

Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line 4--4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the bushing about which the tabs of the anodes are grouped and supported;

Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the anodes;

Figure 8 is a sectional view along the line 88 of Figure 3; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view oi the liner which fits inside the container or cathode.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention, the unit l0 includes four filmed anodes or positive electrodes [2 enclosed within a container l4 common to the four anodes. The con tainer I4 is formed of suitable non-filmed material having conducting properties and constituting the negative electrode or cathode. The anodes I2 are immersed in the electrolyte, as for example a solution of borax and boric acid, contained in the container I4. The anodes l2 may comprise aluminum foil having tabs 16 extending exteriorly of the container for connection with the external circuit or circuits and are insulated from each other.

Figure 7 illustrates the greater part of one of the anodes l2, and since all the anodes are similarly constructed, the description of one will apply to all. According to Figure '7, the anode comprises a thin sheet of metal bent to provide deep corrugations 18 which are radially arranged with respect to the axis of the container and extend longitudinally thereof, as illustrated in Figure 2. corrugations; IS are concentrically related about the axis of the container, and the sheet comprising the anode is folded back upon itself at 20, see Figure 2, to provide a connection between the overlapping and folded margins of the sheet. The anodes I2 extend substantially the full length of the container I4, and each anode is out along the lines 22 adjacent the folds 28 and transversely at 24 with the material inside the slots bent back at 26 to provide arms 28 extending longitudinally of their respective anodes. According to Figure 7, the arm 28 extends beyond the lower end 30 of the anode I2 and is fixedly connected at 32 with the associated tab I8. Connection 32 comprises wing 34 bent back upon themselves for embracing the arm 28 and provided with teeth 36 which are struck into the material of the arm for efiecting a fixed connection.

Container I4 includes a bottom 38 terminating in a neck 40 threaded at 42 for connection with a suitable support. I provide the neck 40 with a tapered bore 44, the taper of which decreases in the direction of the lower end of the neck. Inside the container I4 I mount a disc 46 of insulating material, which disc includes an integral shank 48 extending through the bored neck 40. Between the wall of the bore 44 and theshank 48 I interpose a tapered sleeve 50 of resilient material such as rubber. Referring to Figure 5, the shank G8 is grooved at 52 and 54 for receiving the arms 28 and tabs I 8, respectively. Each groove 52 is interconnected with its associated groove 54 by an enlarged groove 56 of sufficient size to house the connection 32 associated therewith. Arms 28 and the tabs I6 are pressed into their respective grooves so as tohave tight fitting relation with the walls of the grooves. At the same time, the disc is perforated at 58 for accommodating the arms 23.

Figure 1 illustrates the lower ends of the tabs It as extending beyond the'shank 48 for connection with their respective circuits. Sleeve has its upper end extending slightly above the bottom 38 so as to be engaged by the disc 46. A washer iii! of insulating material is positioned adjacent the lower end of the neck 40 and a nut 62 of insulating material has threaded relation with the threaded reach 54 of the shank 48. Thus the disc d6 will press the tapered sleeve 50 into the tapered bore 44 when the nut 62 is tightened. Such tightening of the nut 62 will press the resilient sleeve 58 firmly against the arms 28 and the tabs I 6 so as to provide a liquid tight seal between the sleeve and the bore 44 as well as between the sleeve and the arms 28 and the tabs I5.

Inside the container I I'position a close fitting liner 66 of insulating material. This liner is in the nature of an open ended tube having four columns of slots 58. Liner 65 extends from the bottom 33 to a point slightly above the upper ends of the anodes I2. Two separating sheets Ill of insulating material are arranged in crossed relation inside the liner 66 to provide four chambers i2 each housing one of the anodes I2. Sheets 10 are each slotted inwardly of one of their ends, as at it, half their length and interfitted as illustrated in Figure 3 so that the sheets have interlocking connection at the axis of the container I4. The outer edges of the sheets 70 are pressed against the liner Eli and the sheets are so arranged as to position one column of slots 68 within each of the chambers I2. Disc 56 is provided with spaced ribs I6 to provide grooves I8 within which the lower ends of the sheets 1!] are positioned for support.

The disc is spaced slightly from the bottom 38, as at Bit and the disc is provided with openings 82 grouped within the chambers I2, see Figure 4.

The peripheral face of the disc fits snugly inside the liner 65.

Tapered sleeve 58 includes a ring I02 and connecting bands EM which lie underneath the disc #6, with the bands I04 so arranged as to provide a separate chamber under each of the groups of openings 22. These chambers are sealed one from the other when the disc is drawn down.

The upper end of the container I4 is closed by a cap 8% which is struck up at 85 and provided with a perforation 88 for venting purposes. Cap 3 3 is provided with a curved flange 90 terminating in an outwardly projecting flange 92. Adjacent the inner face of the cap 84 I position a gasket 9% of material such as rubber, which is flanged at 96 to embrace the flange 90. Cap 84 is positioned according to Figure l and the upper end of the container I 4 is spun to contract the end against the flange of the sealing gasket so as to provide a firm connection. Flange 92 is so related to the flange so as to provide a trough as within which the end of the container I4 is positioned so as to. restrain the cap from relative movement longitudinally of the container. At the same time, the cap construction is such as to permit the container I d to be contracted firmly upon the gasket lined cap so as to provide a liquid tight seal. Gasket M is provided with a small perforation Iiifi for venting purposes, which perforation is aligned with the dome-shaped element 86.

It will thus beseen that the container I4 provides a housing for a plurality of anodes, which anodes are isolated through the medium of the walls or sheets it]. Liner 6t insulates the anodes I2 from the container in case of accidental displacement of the anodes, but the construction of the liner is such as to expose considerable area of the container I i to the electrolyte. Space 80 between the disc 45 and the bottom 38 provides accommodation for solids precipitated from the electrolyte.

I claim:

1. An electrolytic condenser comprising a plurality of anodes each having a connection ele ment, a common cathode in the nature of a container for a common electrolyte, separator means between the anodes, said container having a tapered bore and said connection elements extending through the tapered bore, a shank extending through said tapered bore and having a disc located inside the container, said shank having grooves for partly housing said connection elements, resilient means positioned inside said tapered bore and encircling said shank and the connection elements in said grooves, one end of said resilient means engaging said disc, and means threadedly connected with said shank and enacting with the container for drawing the disc against said resilient means for compressing the latter tightly about said shank and said connection elements.

2. An electrolytic condenser comprising a plurality of anodes each having a connection element, a common cathode in the nature of a container for a common electrolyte, separator means between the anodes, said container having a mounting neck provided with a tapered bore, said connection elements extending through said ta pered bore, a shank extending through said tapered bore and having a disc located inside the container closely adjacent said neck, said shank having longitudinal grooves for partly housing said connection elements, resilient means posie tioned inside said tapered bore and encircling said shank and the connection elements in said grooves, one end of said resilient means en aging said disc, and means threadedly connected with said shank and coacting with said neck for drawing said disc against said resilient means to compress the latter tightly against the wall of said bore and about said shank and said connection elements.

3. An electrolytic condenser comprising a plurality of anodes each having a connection element, a common cathode in the nature of a container for a common electrolyte, separator means between the anodes, said container having a mounting neck provided with a tapered bore, said connection elements extending through said tapered bore, a shank extending through said tapered bore and having a disc located inside the container closely adjacent said neck, said shank having longitudinal grooves for partly housing said connection elements, resilient means positioned inside said tapered bore and encircling said shank and the connection elements in said grooves, one end of said resilient means engaging said disc, means threadedly connected with said shank and coacting with said neck for drawing said disc against said resilient means to compress the latter tightly against the wall of said bore and about said shank and said connection elements, a perforatednon-conducting liner inside the container, the rforations in the liner being arranged in the form of columns located between the separator means to be respectively grouped with said anodes, and means on said disc acting upon said separator means for supporting the same in predetermined relative positions.

4. An electrolytic condenser comprising a plurality of anodes each having a connection element, a common cathode in the nature of a container for a common electrolyte, separator means between the anodes, said container having a mounting neck provided with ataperedbore, said connection elements extending through said tapered bore, a shank extending through said tapered bore and having a disc located inside the container closely adjacent said neck, said shank having longitudinal grooves for partly housing said connection elements, resilient means posi- :tioned inside said tapered .bore and encircling said shank and the connection elements in said grooves, one end of said resilient means engaging said disc, means threadedly connected with said shank and coacting with said neck for drawing said disc against said resilient means to compress the latter tightly against the wall of said bore and about said shank and said connection elements, a perforated non-conducting liner inside the container, said separator means comprising -non-conducting sheets arranged in crossed and interlocking relation to provide individual spaces for the anodes, the perforations in the liner being arranged in the form of columns located within the spaces defined by the separator means, grooves in said disc for partly receiving said separator means to support the sheets thereof in predetermined spaced relation, said disc being provided with perforations grouped within said spaces, and sealing means between the disc and the end of the container adjacent said neck to seal the roups of perforations in the disc one from the other.

5. In an electrolytic condenser, an anode comprising a sheet of foil having deep corrugations and bent to hollow formation longitudinally of said corrugations, with said corrugations parallelling one another, said foil having overlapping edge margins each bent back upon itself and interconnected with the other edge margin, said foil being slit part way of its length along the overlapping edge margins and transversely thereof intermediate the ends of the foil, and the overlapping edge margins within the slits being bent outwardly and downwardly to provide a connection tab.

ERIC C. WAHLBERG. 

